<p>Hi, I am a senior in high school and am really looking to join the music/a-cappella scene at Cornell. I am planning on auditioning for the Glee Club and hopefully (if I am accepted into the glee club) for The Hangovers. About how much competition is there for both groups and what exactly is the audition process? Thanks!</p>
<p>Replied via private message.</p>
<p>Hi! So I’m MarzenAmber’s daughter - I’m a rising sophomore at Cornell, and I’m Social Chair of the Chorus (the “sister” group of the Glee Club), so I know the Glee Club really well ;). I’m dating one of them HAHA.</p>
<p>So, competition is pretty rough for both groups - a ton of people audition, quite a few are called back, and around 15 are accepted during Fall semester (this applies to both groups). Auditions consist of two rounds; the first deals with your voice as one entity, and the second deals with how you sound with other Glee Clubbers singing with you.</p>
<p>During the first round, you sing a short solo (depending on if you get to audition with Tucker or JRo, you may or may not be accompanied), do some range exercises and what-not, and do a terrible bit of sight-reading. I’ve played piano for almost 12 years now, so I’m pretty good at sight-reading, but that part almost had me in tears. Everybody hates it, so don’t sweat it. Second round consists of a callback rehearsal, in which you learn (as a group, you and the other callback-ees with the current members of the Glee Club) the selection you will sing in private quartets for the official callback. When you come back for your quartet, you will sing with 3 other current Glee Clubbers that are the 3 other voice parts. You will then sit and sleep and cry until you get a phone call or an email with a verdict.</p>
<p>Auditions for the Hangs are a week or two after you get into Glee Club. Competition is, again, pretty rough - maybe, MAYBE, 4 people will be accepted. I’m not too familiar with auditions for that, but I’ve heard it is very similar to auditions for Glee Club. The audition process for all a cappella groups at Cornell is pretty much the same across the board. The Hangs are great, but if you want to go for co-ed, some really good ones are The Chordials, The Class Notes, and The Key Elements. Last Call is all-male, and they’re really good as well. I mean, all of them are good.</p>
<p>My unsolicited advice for you for O-Week? Go to all of the Chorus/Glee Club events that you can, and talk to us! We’re really cool people and are SO excited about our newbies. Also, you should check out the TONS of archsings that go on - right on North Campus, where you’ll be living! (LIVE IN RISLEY IT’S AWESOME - I’m living there again this year!) Archsings are a great way for you to feel out which a cappella groups you’ll be interested in, and whether they would be a good fit for you.</p>
<p>Also, another thing to know - Glee Club and a cappella will take up a LOT of your time, so make sure it’s something you’re REALLY interested in before going for it! I’m not saying you won’t have a life, it’s just that singing will BE your life. And, hopefully, you’ll love it! I do! (Plus, I’m an engineer. So it doesn’t take up ALL of the time you’ll have. It’s just a big commitment.)</p>
<p>Apologies in advance for the essay response, and feel free to message/email/etc me if you have any more questions, or even if you would like to chat during Orientation! I’ll be on North Campus already!!!</p>